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'UPFRONT with Mike Gousha' recap for March 31, 2013

-- The Assembly co-chair of the Legislature's budget-writing panel says raising taxes isn't an option when it comes to trimming debt to fund major transportation projects.

Rep. John Nygren told ``UPFRONT with Mike Gousha'' that majority Republicans have concerns about Wisconsin’s level of borrowing to fund transportation projects and that they'll focus on what level is best.

Republicans question borrowing

“(But) we don’t want to go back to people for more money,” said Nygren, R-Marinette, on the program, produced in partnership with WisPolitics.com.

Another hot-button issue in the budget is the public school voucher program. “We are committed to a quality education, but we would rather have the conversation about the student rather than the school district,” Nygren said in reference to Gov. Scott Walker's school choice expansion plan based on how districts perform on state school report cards.

"How can we do a better job of educating those kids?," he asked, noting the high numbers of minority and low-income kids who don't graduate from high school.

According to Nygren, these kids are less likely to experience financial success.

--Also on the program, two commentators previewed Tuesday's election.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel columnist Christian Schneider from the right said the liberal challenger to incumbent Justice Pat Roggensack will have a tough time.

"Ed Fallone really hasn’t caught the imagination of the left in the state," he said. "The first ad Fallone comes out of the box running starts trying to pin the physical altercation that happened in the Supreme Court on Justice Roggensack, and I don’t think anyone is buying that."

"“In this circumstance I think he will be outspent two or three to one when you get the outside money in," Nichols said.

Schneider added Roggensack did well in the three-way February primary.“People tend to side with conservatives more in these low-turnout races,” he said.

Both Schneider and Nichols agreed State Superintendent Tony Evers will keep his position.

-- Milwaukee residents will also get to weigh in on same day voter registration Tuesday.

Advisory referendum on same day registration

According to Milwaukee Alderwoman Milele Coggs, limiting the number of hours people can participate in early voting would suppress election turnout.

“What legislators in Madison should be concerned about is ways to increase the amount of people who get registered to vote and turnout to vote, not suppress it," she said.

A Republican-sponsored measure, Assembly Bill 54, would, according to Coggs, limit voting hours, standardize procedures and take away local control over election commissions and municipalities’ ability to tailor hours to their residents.

Some are concerned low turnout for Tuesday will weaken the attempt to show legislators the public’s true opinion.

“For me it is not a numbers game it is an opportunity for the city of Milwaukee to be heard on this issue,” Coggs said.

"Over the last two years we have witnessed legislation pop up. On Monday it is introduced and by the next week it is passed and there are no public hearings in the city of Milwaukee and no way for Milwaukee to be heard on the issue," Coggs said. "So this is our way of ensuring the city of Milwaukee can be heard on the issue."

Forty years ago, one of the greatest boxing matches in history took place in an unlikely setting: the capital of the Philippines. Muhammad Ali's epic win over great rival Joe Frazier in 1975 became known as the "Thrilla in Manila."